Disturbing, provocative and shocking — that's how the Manitoba Metis Federation and its legal team describe Premier Brian Pallister's actions as they get set to head to court.
"This is the position of one individual who has taken the position that he is the king. There is no kings in this country, I'm sorry,” said MMF President David Chartrand.
The MMF says it will seek a judicial review to determine if a provincial directive breaches a 2014 agreement and subsequent settlement last year worth nearly $67.5 million dollars between Manitoba Hydro and the federation. The deal was made to resolve land claims over a handful of transmission projects.
“They are legally binding from the MMF’s perspective and we uphold them,” said MMF lawyer Jason Madden.
Last week Pallister's handpicked Hydro board resigned, saying it reached an impasse with the premier over the Crown corporation's bottom line and Indigenous issues.
Pallister said that wasn't the case, the resignations came because he was putting a stop to the deal between Hydro and the MMF. He referred to the federation as special interest group and said a directive was sent to the hydro board quashing the payment.
"I would describe as more persuasion money,” said Pallister on March 21.
The MMF and its lawyers say the premier's language is shocking and disrespectful. They say Pallister's directive was simply a distraction to cover up the real reason the board stepped down — because of him.
“It's like it was written on the back of a napkin and then the premier came out into a scrum and tried to throw the MMF under the bus,” said Madden.
In response, the province released this statement from Crown Services Minister Cliff Cullen:
"The province has not yet been served with documents starting court proceedings. Once that happens, the province will review in order to determine its position. The Manitoba government will continue to stand up for the rights and best interests of all Manitobans, today and into the future. We have received communications from Metis people that share concerns over future rights."
One of the projects related to the agreement is a transmission line to Minnesota. A group known as the Southeast Stakeholders Coalition is opposed to the location and wants the project put on hold in light of the Hydro-MMF deal. The coalition’s lawyer Kevin Toyne says he’s applied to the National Energy Board asking it to halt the regulatory process.
"Manitoba Hydro appears to be using public resources to make payments to reduce opposition to this particular transmission line and the coalition just thinks that's wrong,” said Toyne.
